Christmas Dinner (Crimson Romance) by Robyn Neeley Read Free Book Online

secrecy.”
    “Okay, six months it is. All right, anything else I should know?”
    “Why, yes, as a matter of fact.” She took another sip of her coffee. “My family is going to grill me more than you on what you’re like. So, here are your hobbies. Listen carefully.”
    “Wait. Am I hearing this correctly? You are going to tell me what my interests are? Wouldn’t it be easier to just ask me questions and get to know me? We’ve got at least five more hours before we get there.”
    “I don’t know. I kind of like what I came up with for you. Brad will hate you. Plus, it will be easier for me to remember on the spot.” She sighed. “You know how I am on thinking on my feet.”
    “All right,” Tate relented. “Lay it on me.”
    “You love to cook. Brad can’t boil water. You’re ambitious and would consider moving to a higher media market to further your career. You want to get married and have kids. Wanting kids is a must. Brad was never sure if he wanted kids.”
    “That’s cool. All of it is true, by the way.”
    “Now for your hobbies. You like to hike, play tennis, and golf on occasion. You love coffee, of course.” She picked up her cup and toasted the air. “You like talking politics and especially love political humor shows. You also enjoy watching old-time classic movies. Any song from the nineties makes you smile.” Amanda hit the first button on the radio, putting it back on the nineties channel. “Oh, and you like dogs, but you’re really a cat person.”
    “Negative, Ace,” Tate said, switching back to the alternative rock station. “I’m allergic to felines.”
    “Well, just say you like them.” She sighed. They had some work to do before she was ready to flaunt him in front of Brad. “It’s not like we’re adopting one this weekend.”
    “But I don’t. Why do I have to like them?” he asked.
    “Because I do,” she replied. “And Brad doesn’t.”
    “Okay, fine. I love cats. But Amanda, you do realize who you are bringing home with you?”
    “No, who?”
    Tate reach over and changed the radio back to the nineties channel and turned the volume up. “
You
.”
    Twenty minutes later, Amanda was still stewing in her seat.
He doesn’t know what he’s talking about, and he drives too slow. Who under the age of sixty uses cruise control?
Even her eighty-five-year-old grandmother with double knee replacements could have gotten them home faster. She smiled thinking about her grandmother. She couldn’t wait to see her. Her eyes rested on a shiny small object in the middle console.
    “What’s that?” She pointed to the crystal rock.
    Tate’s eyes followed hers. “It’s my good luck charm.”
    “Good luck charm?” she repeated. “I wouldn’t peg you as the superstitious type.”
    Tate shrugged. “I’m not. Someone gave it to me a long time ago. She told me my luck was about to change.”
    “Oh, really? Who? Ms. Hot Pink Dress?”
    “Why, jealous?”
    Amanda rolled her eyes. “Hardly.”
    “Well, for your information, it wasn’t a girlfriend. Here, hold out your hand,” he instructed.
    “No.” She defiantly made a tight fist.
    “Seriously, hold it out.”
    “Why?”
    “Ace, you do realize you’re going to have to trust me at some point? It would probably make our dating more believable if you did. Here,
let’s practice
,” he said, mocking her exact words from earlier.
    Amanda reluctantly opened up her hand. “Fine.”
    He placed the soft shiny stone in her palm. “Consider this now your lucky charm.”
    “You’re giving me your rock?” She peered at the tiny object.
    “Sure am. I’m guessing that you might need a little luck on your side this weekend, facing Brad and all.”
    “Hmmm. Thanks. You’re probably right.” Amanda slumped down in her seat and turned away, looking out the window. Was she ready to face Brad and meet his fiancée?
    She eyed a group of outlet shops. It would be nice to get out and stretch for a bit. “Let’s pull off at